Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same

ABSTRACT

In a backlight assembly and an LCD apparatus having the same, a lamp-fixing member includes a base substrate, a fixing clip protruded from a base substrate so as to fix a lamp and a fixing portion formed by partially cutting-away the base substrate. A mold frame includes a receiving portion for receiving the lamp-fixing member and the receiving portion includes a fixing protrusion inserted into the fixing portion. The fixing protrusion includes a supporting portion formed at an end of the fixing protrusion and coupled to the base substrate when the lamp-fixing member is slid. Accordingly, the backlight assembly may have an improved light efficiency and an enhanced assemblability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 10/600,194 filed Jun. 19, 2003, which claims priority to and thebenefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-8696 filed on Feb. 12,2003, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a backlight assembly an LCD (LiquidCrystal Display) apparatus, and more particularly to a backlightassembly and an LCD apparatus having an improved light efficiency and anenhanced assemblability.

2. Description of the Related Art

An LCD apparatus includes an LCD panel for displaying an image and abacklight assembly for providing a light to the LCD panel.

Recently, an LCD apparatus has been gradually scaled up in accordancewith demand of customers, so that the scaling-up of the LCD apparatushas accommodated an LCD panel and a backlight assembly to be scaled upto the demand of the customers. As a result, an LCD apparatus hasemployed a direct illumination type backlight assembly having aplurality of lamps disposed under the LCD panel. The plurality of lampsarranged in parallel to each other directly provides a light to the LCDpanel.

A direct illumination type backlight assembly, generally, uses an EEFL(External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp). An EEFL includes a tube body intowhich a discharge gas is injected and an external electrode outwardlypositioned at both ends of the tube body. The EEFL generates a light inresponse to a lamp driving voltage provided from an external devicethrough the external electrode. The direct illumination type backlightassembly having the EEFL further includes a lamp-fixing member and amold frame for receiving the lamp-fixing member and the EEFL.

The lamp-fixing member is coupled to the mold frame so as to fix theEEFL to a predetermined position. Also, the lamp-fixing member iselectrically connected to the EEFL so that the lamp driving voltage isprovided to the EEFL.

Accordingly, if the lamp-fixing member is not normally coupled to themold frame, the EEFL received into the lamp-fixing member may be easilymoved by an impact from an exterior, thereby deteriorating anassemblability of the direct illumination type backlight assembly.

Also, when the EEFL is moved, an effective light-emitting area of theEEFL does not correspond to a display area of an LCD apparatus havingthe direct illumination type backlight assembly, so a light efficiencyof the direct illumination type backlight assembly and a display qualityof the LCD apparatus may be deteriorated.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a backlight assembly having an improvedlight efficiency and an enhanced assemblability.

The present invention provides an LCD having the above backlightassembly.

In one aspect of the invention, a backlight assembly includes a lamp forgenerating light, a fixing member for fixing the lamp and a receivingreceptacle for receiving the lamp and fixing member.

The fixing member includes a base substrate, a fixing clip protrudedfrom an upper surface of the base substrate so as to fix the lamp and afirst fixing portion formed by partially cutting-away the basesubstrate.

The receiving receptacle provides a receiving space in which the fixingmember is received and includes a first fixing protrusion inserted intothe first fixing portion, which is protruded from a bottom surface ofthe receiving space, so as to prevent deviation of the fixing memberfrom the receiving space.

In another aspect of the invention, an LCD apparatus includes an LCDpanel for receiving light provided from an external and displaying animage, a lamp for generating the light, a fixing member for fixing thelamp and a receiving receptacle for receiving the lamp and fixingmember.

The fixing member includes a base substrate, a fixing clip protrudedfrom an upper surface of the base substrate so as to fix the lamp and afirst fixing portion formed by partially cutting-away the basesubstrate.

The receiving receptacle provides a receiving space in which the fixingmember is received and includes a first fixing protrusion inserted intothe first fixing portion, which is protruded from a bottom surface ofthe receiving space, so as to prevent deviation of the fixing memberfrom the receiving space.

Accordingly, the lamp-fixing member coupled to the mold frame is notdeviated from the backlight assembly although an external impact isapplied to the backlight assembly, thereby improving assemblability ofthe backlight assembly.

Also, since the lamps can be stably fixed to the lamp-fixing member, thebrightness of the light generated from the backlight assembly may beincreased and a display quality of the LCD apparatus may be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view showing an LCD apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view showing a backlight assemblyshown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first lamp-fixing member shown inFIG. 1B;

FIGS. 3 to 7 are schematic views showing a first lamp-fixing member inassembled relation with a mold frame shown FIGS. 2 and 1B, respectively;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a lamp assembled with a first lamp-fixingmember;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a first lamp-fixing memberaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a lamp assembled with a first lamp-fixingmember shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view showing an LCD apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1Bis an exploded perspective view showing a backlight assembly shown inFIG. 1A.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an LCD apparatus 600 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit100 for displaying an image and a backlight assembly 200 for providing alight to the display unit 100.

The display unit 100 includes an LCD panel 110 for displaying the imageand gate and data PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) 120 and 130 for drivingthe LCD panel 110.

The backlight assembly 200 includes a lamp unit 210 having a pluralityof lamps 211 for generating the light, first and second lamp-fixingmembers 220 and 230 for guiding positions of the lamps 211, a diffusingplate 240 for diffusing the light, optical sheets 250 for improvingoptical properties of the light, which are disposed on the diffusingplate 240 and a mold frame 260 for receiving the optical sheets 250,diffusing plate 240, lamp unit 210, and first and second lamp-fixingmembers 220 and 230.

The lamps 211 are extended in a first direction D1 and arranged in asecond direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1. Each of thelamps 211 includes a tube body 211 a, first and second externalelectrodes 211 b and 211 c respectively positioned at both ends of thetube body 211 a and a discharge gas (not shown) injected into the tubebody 211 a.

The first and second external electrodes 211 b and 211 c includes ametal material and outwardly surrounds the both ends of the tube body211 a. Also, the first and second external electrodes 211 b and 211 creceives a lamp driving voltage supplied from an external device (notshown), for example, such as a power supply device, and provides thelamp driving voltage to the tube body 211 a.

The first lamp-fixing member 220 receives first ends of the lamps 211and is fixed to the mold frame 260. The second lamp-fixing member 230receives second ends of the lamps 211 and is fixed to the mold frame260. Thus, the lamps 211 may be fixed to a predetermined position of themold frame 260.

The mold frame 260 provides a receiving space in which the lamp unit210, diffusing plate 240, optical sheets 250, first lamp-fixing member220 and second lamp-fixing member 230 are received. For this purpose,the mold frame 260 includes a sidewall, a first receiving portion 261extended from the sidewall so as to receive the first lamp-fixing member220 and a second receiving portion 262 extended from the sidewall so asto receive the second lamp-fixing member 230.

In this exemplary embodiment, the first lamp-fixing member 220 includesthe function and structure as in those of the second lamp-fixing member230 as shown in FIG. 1B. Therefore, the structure of the firstlamp-fixing member 220 will be described in detail and the detaileddescription of the second lamp-fixing member 230 will be omitted.

The first lamp-fixing member 220 includes fixing clips 222 coupled tothe first external electrodes 211 b positioned at the first ends of thelamps 211 and is fixed to the first receiving portion 261 of the moldframe 260. The second lamp-fixing member 230 also includes fixing clipscoupled to the second external electrodes 211 c positioned at the secondends of the lamps 211 and is fixed to the second receiving portion 262of the mold frame 260.

The first lamp-fixing member 220 includes a base substrate 221, thefixing clips 222 protruded from the base substrate 221 so as to receivethe first ends of the lamps 210 and a first fixing portion 221 a formedby partially cutting-way the base substrate 221 and coupled to a fixingprotrusion (not shown) formed on the mold frame 260.

The mold frame 260 includes a first receiving portion 261 for receivingthe first lamp-fixing member 220 and the first receiving portion 261includes a first fixing protrusion 261 b protruded from an upper surfaceof the first receiving portion 261. The first fixing protrusion 261 b isprovided with a supporting portion 261 c protruded from an upper end ofthe first fixing protrusion 261 b to a direction perpendicular to adirection to which the first fixing protrusion 261 b is protruded. Thesupporting portion 261 c fixes the first lamp-fixing member 220 to thefirst receiving portion 261, thereby preventing deviation of the firstlamp-fixing member 220 from the first receiving portion 261.

Also, the first lamp-fixing member 220 further includes a second fixingprotrusion 223 protruded from a lower surface of the base substrate 220to the upper surface of the first receiving portion 261. Particularly,the second fixing protrusion 223 is formed by partially cutting the basesubstrate 220 and inclined toward the upper surface of the firstreceiving portion 261.

When the first and second lamp-fixing members 220 and 230 are receivedinto the first and second receiving portions 261 and 262 of the moldframe 260, respectively, the first and second lamp-fixing members 220and 230 are fixed to the first and second receiving portions 261 and 262in a hook-type manner.

The first and second lamp-fixing members 220 and 230 receives the lampdriving voltage from the external device (not shown) and provides thelamp driving voltage to the lamps 211 through the first and secondexternal electrodes 211 b and 211 c so as to drive the lamps 211. Inorder to apply the lamp driving voltage to the first and secondlamp-fixing members 220 and 230, the external device (not shown)includes first and second electric wires 270 and 280. The first andsecond electric wires 270 and 280 include a ring-shaped end portion atwhich first thru-holes 271 and 281 are formed, respectively. The firstthru-holes 271 and 281 have a size corresponding to a size of first andsecond screws 272 and 282 respectively engaged to the first and secondreceiving portions 261 and 262 passing through the first thru-holes 271and 281.

In order to drive the lamps 211, the external device (not shown)provides the lamp driving voltage to the first and second lamp-fixingmembers 220 and 230 through the first and second electric wires 270 and280. One of the first and second lamp-fixing members 220 and 230receives a high level voltage from the external device and the other ofthe first and second lamp-fixing members 220 and 230 receives a lowlevel voltage, for example, such as a ground voltage from the externaldevice. If the second lamp-fixing member 230 is not electricallyconnected to the external device using the second electric wire 280, thesecond lamp-fixing member 230 is connected to a ground using a separateelectric wire (not shown).

In FIG. 1B, the first lamp-fixing member 220 includes the same structureas in that of the second lamp-fixing member 230, so that the structureof the first lamp-fixing member 220 will be described in detail and thedetailed description of the second lamp-fixing member 230 will beomitted.

The first lamp-fixing member 220 is provided with a second thru-hole 221b corresponding to the first thru-hole 271 of the first electric wire270 and the mold frame 260 is provided with an engaging recess 261 dcorresponding to the first and second thru-holes 271 and 221 b. When thefirst lamp-fixing member 220 is received into the first receivingportion 261 of the mold frame 260, the first screw 272 is engaged intothe engaging recess 261 d, which is sequentially passing through thesecond and first thru-holes 221 b and 271. Thus, the first lamp-fixingmember 220 and first electric wire 270 are electrically connected toeach other by means of the first screw 272, so that the firstlamp-fixing member 220 may receive the lamp driving voltage providedfrom the external device.

The lamps 211 are fixed to the first and second lamp-fixing members 220and 230. The first and second lamp-fixing members 220 and 230 include ametal material and are electrically connected to the first and secondexternal electrodes 211 b and 211 c, respectively. Accordingly, the lampdriving voltage provided from the external device is provided to thefirst and second external electrodes 211 b and 211 c through the firstand second, lamp-fixing members 220 and 230.

The first and second lamp-fixing members 220 and 230 may fix the lamps211 received into the mold frame 260 to predetermined positions andapply the lamp driving voltage to the lamps 211. The mold frame 260 isreceived into a bottom chassis 300.

The diffusing plate 240 and optical sheets 250 is sequentially disposedon the mold frame 260 and a middle chassis 400 is disposed on theoptical sheets 250. The LCD panel 110 is fixed to the middle chassis 400by means of a top chassis 500 disposed on the LCD panel 110 and combinedwith the bottom chassis 300. The top chassis 500 is provided with anopening 510 so as to expose an effective display area of the LCD panel110.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first lamp-fixing member 220shown in FIG. 1B, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a firstlamp-fixing member 220 in assembled relation with a mold frame 260 shownFIGS. 2 and 1B, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first lamp-fixing member 220 includesthe base substrate 221, fixing clips 222 protruded from the basesubstrate 221 so as to fix the lamps 211 and first fixing portion 221 aformed by partially cutting-away the base substrate 221 and coupled tothe first fixing protrusion 261 b formed at the mold frame 260.

The mold frame 260 includes the first receiving portion 261 forreceiving the first lamp-fixing member 220 and the first receivingportion 261 includes the first fixing protrusion 261 b protruded fromthe upper surface of the first receiving portion 261.

The first fixing protrusion 261 b is provided with the supportingportion 261 c protruded from the upper end of the first fixingprotrusion 261 b to a direction perpendicular to a direction to whichthe first fixing protrusion 261 b is protruded. The supporting portion261 c fixes the first lamp-fixing member 220 to the first receivingportion 261, thereby preventing deviation of the first lamp-fixingmember 220 from the first receiving portion 261.

Since the first fixing protrusion 261 b includes the supporting portion261 c, the first lamp-fixing member 220 is coupled to the firstreceiving portion 261 in a sliding manner after the first lamp-fixingmember 220 is received into the first receiving portion 261. As shown inFIG. 3, in case that the supporting portion 261 c is protruded in athird direction D3, the first lamp-fixing member 220 is received intothe first receiving portion 261 so as to allow the supporting portion261 c to pass through the first fixing portion 221 a and the firstlamp-fixing member 220 is slid on the upper surface of the firstreceiving portion 261 in a fourth direction D4 opposite to the thirddirection D3.

When the first lamp-fixing member 220 is moved in the fourth directionD4, the supporting portion 261 c makes contact with the upper surface ofthe base substrate 221 of the first lamp-fixing member 220. Thus, thefirst fixing protrusion 261 b fixes the first lamp-fixing member 220 sothat the first lamp-fixing member 220 is not moved to a fifth directionD5.

However, although the first lamp-fixing member 220 is not moved to thefifth direction D5 by means of the supporting portion 261 c, the firstlamp-fixing member 220 needs a structure that may prevent movement ofthe first lamp-fixing member 220 to the third and fourth directions D3and D4. That is, the first lamp-fixing member 220 may be easily moved tothe third direction D3 by an external impact because the firstlamp-fixing member 220 is moved to the fourth direction D4.

Accordingly, the first lamp-fixing member 220 further includes thesecond fixing protrusion 223 protruded from the base substrate 220 tothe upper surface of the first receiving portion 261. The second fixingprotrusion 223 is formed by partially cutting the base substrate 220 andinclined toward the upper surface of the first receiving portion 261.The lower surface of the second fixing protrusion 223 faces the fourthdirection D4.

The mold frame 260 is provided with a second fixing portion 261 a formedon the bottom surface of the first receiving portion 261 so as toreceive the second fixing protrusion 223. The second fixing portion 261a is formed by partially cutting-away the bottom surface of the firstreceiving portion 261.

When the first lamp-fixing member 220 is slid on the first receivingportion 261 in the fourth direction D4, the second fixing protrusion 223is received into the second fixing portion 261 a. Thus, the firstlamp-fixing member 220 may be fixed to the first receiving portion 261,thereby preventing movement of the first lamp-fixing member 220 to thethird direction D3.

The base substrate 221 of the first lamp-fixing member 220 has a plateshape and the second thru-hole 221 b is formed at an end of the basesubstrate 221. The first screw 272 (see FIG. 1B) is engaged into theengaging recess 261 d (see FIG. 1B) of the mold frame 260, which issequentially passing through the second and first thru-holes 221 b and271. Thus, the first lamp-fixing member 220 and first electric wire 270are electrically connected to each other by means of the first screw272.

Each of the fixing clips 222 is protruded from the upper surface of thebase substrate 221 and coupled to the first ends, at which the firstexternal electrode 211 b is positioned of the lamps 211. The fixingclips 222 respectively include an opening 222 a that allows the firstends of the lamps 222 to be received in the fixing clips 222 and a guidesurface 222 b that defines a receiving space having a cylindrical shapein which the first external electrode 211 b is received. A width W1 ofthe opening 222 a is smaller than a width W2 of the receiving space anda diameter of the first external electrode 211 b.

Although the width W1 of the opening 222 a is smaller than the diameterof the first external electrode 211 b, since the guide surface 222 b haselasticity, the width W1 of the opening 222 a is widened by the diameterof the first external electrode 211 b while the first external electrode211 b is inserted into the receiving space through the opening 222 a.When the first external electrode 211 b is completely inserted into thereceiving space, the guide surface 222 b is returned to an initial stateand the width W1 is narrowed.

Thus, the first external electrode 211 b inserted into the receivingspace may not be deviated from the receiving space through the opening222 a and may be fixed to the first lamp-fixing member 220 by means ofthe guide surface 222 b.

Also, the guide surface 222 b is provided with inclined surfaces 222 coutwardly extended from both ends of the guide surface 222 b. Theinclined surfaces 222 c allows the first external electrode 221 b to beeasily inserted into the receiving space through the opening 222 a.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a lamp fixing-member disposed on a moldframe and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ forshowing structure of a lamp fixing-member and a mold frame shown in FIG.4.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the first lamp-fixing member 220 isreceived in the first receiving portion 261 of the mold frame 260, thefirst fixing protrusion 261 b is inserted into the first fixing portion221 a. In order to insert the first fixing protrusion 261 b into thefirst fixing portion 221 a, the first fixing portion 221 a has a widthappropriate to allow the first fixing-protrusion 261 b to be passed thefirst fixing portion 221 a.

The second fixing protrusion 223 of the first lamp fixing-member 220 ispositioned on a position of the upper surface of the first lampfixing-member 220, which is separated from the second fixing portion 261a in a predetermined distance.

That is, since the second fixing protrusion 223 is positioned on theupper surface of the first lamp-fixing member 220 when the firstlamp-fixing member 220 is received in the first receiving portion 261,the second fixing protrusion 223 is substantially parallel to the basesubstrate 221. Thus, the first fixing protrusion 261 b of the mold frame260 may be positioned at a position higher than that of the basesubstrate 221.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a lamp fixing-member fixed to a mold frameand FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B′ forshowing structure of a lamp fixing-member and a mold frame shown in FIG.6.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the first lamp fixing-member 220received in the first receiving portion 261 of the mold frame 260 ismoved to the fourth direction D4, the supporting portion 261 c formed atthe end of the first fixing protrusion 261 b makes contact with theupper surface of the first lamp-fixing member 220.

Thus, the first lamp-fixing member 220 is fixed to the first receivingportion 261 by means of the supporting portion 261 c and the supportingportion prevents the first lamp-fixing member 220 from deviating fromthe first receiving portion 261 to the fifth direction D5.

In addition, the second fixing-protrusion 223 is formed by partiallycutting the base substrate 220 and inclined toward the upper surface ofthe first receiving portion 261. The lower surface of the second fixingprotrusion 223 faces to the fourth direction D4.

When the first lamp-fixing member 220 is moved to the fourth directionD4, the second fixing protrusion 223 is received into the second fixingportion 261 a formed on the first receiving portion 261. While thesecond fixing protrusion is received into the second fixing portion 261a, the second fixing protrusion 223 is returned to an initial state dueto an elasticity thereof and positioned at a bottom portion of thesecond fixing portion 261 a. Therefore, the second fixing portion 261 aand second fixing protrusion 223 may prevent the first lamp-fixingmember 220 from moving in the third direction D3 and the first fixingprotrusion 261 b and first fixing portion 221 a may prevent the firstlamp-fixing member 220 from moving in the fourth direction D4.

When the first lamp-fixing member 220 is coupled to the first receivingportion 261, the first screw 272 is engaged into the engaging recess 261d of the first receiving portion 261 after passing through the secondthru-hole 221 b formed at the base substrate 221 and the first thru-hole271 formed at the end of the first electric wire 270.

Thus, the first lamp-fixing member 220 is electrically connected to thefirst electric wire 270 by means of the first screw 272 and the lampdriving voltage from the external device (not shown) is applied to thefirst lamp-fixing member 220 through the first electric wire 270.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a lamp assembled with a first lamp-fixingmember shown in FIG. 1B.

Referring to FIG. 8, the lamps 211 are coupled to the fixing clips 222of the first lamp-fixing member 220, respectively. Each of the firstends, at which the first external electrode 211 b is positioned, of thelamps 211 is received in the receiving space defined by the guidesurfaces 222 b of the fixing clips 222. The width W1 of the opening 222a is widened by the diameter of the first external electrode 211 b whilethe first external electrode 211 b is inserted into the receiving spacethrough the opening 222 a since the width W1 of the opening 222 a issmaller than the diameter of the first external electrode 211 b. Whenthe first external electrode 211 b is completely inserted into thereceiving space, the guide surface 222 b is returned to the initialstate due to the elasticity thereof, thereby preventing the lamps 211from being deviated from the fixing clips 222.

Each of the lamps 211 includes an effective light emitting area EA foremitting the light and a non-effective light emitting area NEA where thelight is not emitted. The effective light emitting area EA iscorresponding to an area on which the first and second externalelectrodes 211 b and 211 c are positioned and the non-effective lightemitting area NEA is corresponding to an area on which the first andsecond external electrodes 211 b and 211 c are not positioned.

The lamps 211 coupled to the first and second receiving portions 261 and262 are received into the mold frame 260, which is corresponding to adisplay area DA of the LCD apparatus 600 (see FIG. 1). That is, if thenon-effective light emitting area NEA is located within the display areaDA, a brightness characteristic of the image displayed on the LCDapparatus 600 may be deteriorated. Also, if the effective light emittingarea EA is partially located within a peripheral area PA adjacent to thedisplay area DA, the light efficiency of the light emitted from thebacklight assembly 200 may be deteriorated.

Accordingly, the lamps 211 are disposed such that the non-effectivelight emitting area NEA is corresponding to the peripheral area PA ofthe LCD panel 100 and the effective light emitting area EA iscorresponding to the display area EA of the LCD panel 100.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a first lamp-fixing memberaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG.10 is a plan view showing a lamp assembled with a first lamp-fixingmember shown in FIG. 9. In FIGS. 9 and 10, parts having the samefunction and structure as in those of the first lamp-fixing memberaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will berepresented by the same reference numerals as in those of the firstlamp-fixing member and will not be described in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a first lamp-fixing member 220 includes abase substrate 221 and fixing clips 222 protruded from an upper surfaceof the base substrate 221 so as to receive lamps 211. Also, the firstlamp-fixing member 220 further includes a first fixing portion 221 aformed by partially cutting-way the base substrate 221, a second fixingprotrusion 223 protruded from the base substrate 220 to an upper surfaceof a first receiving portion 261, and a third fixing protrusion 224protruded from the base substrate 221 in a direction identical to adirection to which the fixing clips 222 is extended.

The third fixing protrusion 224 is disposed corresponding to the fixingclips 222. When the first ends of the lamps 211are received into thereceiving spaces of the fixing clips 222, respectively, the third fixingprotrusion 224 is disposed between the first ends of the lamps 221 andthe sidewall of the mold frame 260. Moreover, the third fixingprotrusion 224 makes contact with the first ends of the lamps 211 so asto prevent movement of the lamps to the fifth direction D5.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a second lamp-fixing member 230 (not shown in FIGS.9 and 10) is received into the second receiving portion 262 (not shownin FIGS. 9 and 10) having the same function and structure as in those ofthe first lamp-fixing member 230. The second lamp-fixing member 230 alsoincludes a fourth fixing protrusion (not shown) having the same functionand structure as in those of the third fixing protrusion 224 of thefirst lamp-fixing member 230.

The third fixing protrusion 224 and fourth fixing protrusion (not shown)may fix the lamps 211 to the fixing clips 222, thereby preventing thenon-effective light emitting area NEA of the lamps 222 from movingtowards the display area DA. Thus, the brightness of the light generatedfrom the backlight assembly 200 (see FIG. 1) may be increased and adisplay quality of the LCD apparatus 600 may be improved.

In these exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, incase that the backlight assembly is applied to the LCD apparatus hasbeen described. However, the backlight assembly may be applied to anorganic electroluminence device or a plasma display apparatus.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it is understood that the present invention should not belimited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes andmodifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within thespirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A backlight assembly comprising: a lamp generating light; a fixingmember including a base substrate provided with an aperture extendingthrough the base substrate, and a fixing clip electrically coupled tothe base substrate and fixing the lamp; and a receiving receptacleproviding a receiving space in which the fixing member is received, andincluding a first fixing protrusion inserted into the aperture of thefixing member and fixing the fixing member in the receiving space;wherein the first fixing protrusion is unitary with the receivingreceptacle, and is protruded from a surface of the receiving receptacle.2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, wherein the base substratecomprises a first substrate extended in a first direction and a secondsubstrate separate from the first substrate and disposed parallel thefirst substrate.
 3. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein thefixing clip is extended in a second direction substantiallyperpendicular to the first direction and comprises a first end portiondisposed on an upper surface of the first substrate and a second endportion disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate.
 4. Thebacklight assembly of claim 3, wherein the lamp comprises a tube body togenerate the light and an external electrode to surround an end portionof the tube body, and the external electrode is coupled to the fixingclip.
 5. The backlight assembly of claim 4, wherein an electric wire iselectrically connected to the fixing member to provide the externalelectrode with a voltage driving the lamp.
 6. A backlight assemblycomprising: a lamp to generate light; a fixing member fixing the lampand including: a first base substrate extended in a first direction, asecond base substrate to parallel the first base substrate, and a fixingclip extended in a second direction substantially perpendicular to thefirst direction, the fixing clip including a first end portion disposedon an upper surface of the first base substrate and a second end portiondisposed on an upper surface of the second base substrate; and areceiving receptacle receiving the lamp and the fixing member.
 7. Thebacklight assembly of claim 6, wherein the lamp comprises a tube body togenerate the light and an external electrode to surround an end portionof the tube body, and the external electrode is coupled to the fixingclip.
 8. The backlight assembly of claim 7, wherein an electric wire iselectrically connected to the fixing member to provide the externalelectrode with a voltage driving the lamp.